12/25/2015

Matthew 2:10-11 “10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”(NASB)

The gifts of the Magi were a foreshadowing of the life Christ would lead. Led to him by a vision and a star, they showered the young child with gifts meant for a king.

The gold that was brought to Christ was symbolic of his coming kingdom. It was a testimony that this young boy would be more than the son of a carpenter; he would become a king. Just as the gold itself had been refined by fire to attain its value, so too would Christ endure the fire of death and rise to redeem his people.

The frankincense symbolized his coming role as high priest. Yet unlike the high priests of Israel, he would not offer up continual sacrifices on our behalf, he would become the final sacrifice to bring a permanent end to sin’s hold on our lives.

The myrrh symbolized his death and burial. While other burials tend to be of a permanent nature, Jesus Christ would rise from the grave, victorious over sin and death, and ascend to the right hand of the Father.

The Magi were more than just a group of random philosophers. They were sent to show that from the moment Jesus entered the manger, he was on the road to become our messiah.